Mail-box.



J. u. CARTER.

MAIL BOX.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 4.1218.

1,289,651. Patented Dec. 31,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I W {I I mm 4 )1, 2 m

5W1 JVdarte/r J. U. CARTER.

MAIL BOX- k Arrucmqn FILED MAY4. 1918.

1,289,651. I Patented Dec. 31,1918

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 auiw/Moz WUMWLQ W m uiuacwtew 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAIL-BOX.

7 '0 all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, JAooB CARTER, an American citizen, of St. George, Washington (10., State of Utah, residing at Cardstown,

in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification- This invention relates. to rural mail boxes and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed. H

An object of the invention is to provlde a box of the character stated having a hinged lid or cover adapted to be normally locked in a closed position with relation to the body of the box but which may be unlocked without the use of a key and swung to an open position. Means are provided upon the bodyof the box and adapted to be manipulated bykone familiar with the same for releasing the lid whereby it may be swung to an open position.

Another object of the box is to provide spring means for automatically opening the lid when the same is released also the provision of an opening through the lid whereby fliinail may be-inserted in the box'and a coverwhich normallycloses the saidopening.

h In the accompanying drawing 3 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with Figure 1 is a side elevation of the box.

. parts in section.

*f'iFig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the box. e

Fig. 4 is a long%udinal sectional view of the same cut' on th line 440f Fig. 3 and showing part-s brokemawa I I Fig. 5 is a plan view of t'ii e box with parts removed and parts in section.

Fig, 6 isa fragmentary plan view of a corner portion of the box with parts in section.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the box.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the modified form of the box showing parts in section.

' The box comprises a body 1 which may be made of metal or any other suitable material.

A lid 2 is hingcdly connected at one edge to one side of the box and is provided with an opening 3 through which mail may be inserted into the box. The said opening 3 is surrounded at the top of the lid by a head or flange 4. Springs 5 are located in the hinges which connect the lid 2 with the body Specification 01 Letters Patent.

. Application filed May 4, 1918. Serial N0. 232,629-

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

of the box and the said springs are under tension with a tendency to normally open the lid with relation to the body of the box when the lid is released. Thelid 2 is pro vided at its rear side with a flange 6 adapted to engage the back of the box when the lid swings to an open position whereby the swinging movement of the lid is limited. A cover 7 is connected by means of a hinge8 with the rear portion of the lid 2 and is adapted to lie-in an inclined position over the lid and the opening 3. A securing device 9 is adapted to engage the lid 2. as best illustrated in Fig. 3 whereby the cover 7 may be temporarily secured at a fixedeposition with relation to the lid. When it is desired to insert mail matter intothe body of the box the securing device 9 is disengaged from the lid.2 by turning the said securing device in a usual manner and consequently the cover 7 may be swung in an upward direction away from the lid and the opening 3 is uncovered, therefore. pieces of Inail may be inserted in the body 1 through the opening 3. After this has been done the dover 7 may be swung down over the lid'2 and secured by manipulating the securing device 9. Inasmuch as the cover 7 normally is disposed in an inclined position any rain or moisture which may fa 1 upon the same will run off and cannot enter the body 1 through the opening 3. The lid 2 is provided at its free edge portion and at its underside with a depending lug 10 which is provided with an opening 11 through .which a securing bolt (hereinafter described) may pass for the purpose of looking thelid at a closed position with relation to the body of the box. The lug 10 is provided at its lower portion with a curved edge 12.

The body 1 is provided at the exterior surfaces of its sides and ends with vertically disposed projections 13 resembling pilasters with projections 14 resemblin beams located at the upper end of the Intermediate and end pilasters and which circumscribe the upper edge of the body of the box. A spring 15 is concealed in one of the pilasters 13 and engages-at its free end one of the beams 14 as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing and the said beam 14- is slidable longitudinally.

A partition 16 is located within the body 1 and extends longitudinally thereof and divides the said body into a mail receiving compartment and a lock retaining com partment. The lock comprises a guide 17 having a pin 18 passing transversely through the same. A bolt 19 is slidably mounted in the guide 17 and is provided at its side with a recess 20 which receives the pin 18. The bolt'is further provided with a collar or shoulder 21 against which the upper end of a spring 22 bears. The spring 22 is secured at its lower end within the.

body 1 of the box. The spring 22 is under tension with a tendency to normally hold the bolt 19 in a'projected position with re lation to the guide 17. The bolt 19 is pro vided at its working end with a notch 23, (see Fig. 6). A spring 24 is'attachedto the front side of the body 1 and may enter the notch 23 whereby the bolt 19 is held at a retracted position with relation to the guide 17 and ,against the tension of the spring 22. A cord 25 is attached at one end to the end of the bolt 19 and passes through the endv of the body 1 and is connected with the slidable beam lat as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

Consequently when the beam 14 is slid by one who is familiar with the structure of the box the cord 25 is moved longitudinally whereby the bolt 19 is moved against the tension'oi the spring 22 and the said spring is flexed away from the guide 17. This moves the bolt 19 to a retracted position wherebyits end portion is moved out of the opening 11 in the lug 10 thereby releasing the lid 2. The lid 2 then swings to an open position under the influence of the springs 5 mounted at the hinges of the said lid. Immediately thereafter the spring 24 enters the notch 23 whereby the bolt 19 is held at-a retracted positidn. Consequently the box is opened and when the contents of the, boxhave been removed therefrom the lid is swung to a closed position whereby the curved edge 12 of timing 10 comes in contact with the spring 2% and moves the free end thereof out of the notch 23. This releases the bolt 19 and under the influence of the spring 22 the end of the boltg-is passed through the opening ll in the lug 10 and securing the lid 2 at a closed position above the upper edges of the body of the box. At the same time the cord 25 is moved whereby the beam 14 is drawn back to its Originabor normal position with relation to the body of the box.

In the *form 'of'the invhnt'ion as illustrated in Figs. 'i' 'and 8 the slidable beam 14 is dispensed withand thewo'rd "is trained around a pulley 26 located at one end of "the body 1 and th-cn'extends through tlll' opposite end of the body'aiidjaround a pulley 27 and is connected with ablidable pilasler 13 locatedua't a corner of the body l. ln 1 this form of the invention when it is desired to release the lid the pilaster 13 is moved in a'downwaid direction whereby the bolt 19 is withdrawn from the lug of the lid and the lid swings to an open posi tion as hereinbefore described. When the lid is closed the bolt 19 is permitted to enter the opening in the lug and the cord 25 is moved whereby the pilaster 13' is moved up to its original or normal position at the corner of the box. In both forms of the invention it is necessary for one to be familiar with the structure of the box in order to efi'ect the opening of the lid and when so familiarized the lid may be easily and quickly swung to an open position without the use of a key for it may be released from the locking device as hereinbefore described and when it is swung to aclosed position the bolt of the lock automatically engages the lug of the lid and holds the lid at such position.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1QA mail box comprising a body, a lid hinged thereto. a spring pressed bolt slidably mounted in the box and adapted to engage the lid to hold the same at a closed position, a member movably mounted at the exterior of the box and flexible means operatively connecting the bolt with said memher. I

2. A mail box comprising a body. a lid hinged thereto, a. bolt slidably mounted in the body and engageable-with the lid to hold the same at a closed position upon the body, a spring bearing against the bolt, a second spring adapted to engage the bolt for holding the same at a retracted position. means carried by the lid for engaging the second mentioned spring when the lid is closed to disengage the said spring from the bolt. 5-. member movably mounted at the exterior of the body and means operatively connecting said member With the bolt.

3. A mail box comprising a body, a lid hinged thereto. a bolt slidably mounted in the body and adapted to engage the lid to hold the same at a closed position. a spring bearing against the bolt, a spring adapted to engage the bolt for holding the same at a. retracted position, means carried by tho lid for. engaging the second mentioned spring to cause the same to disengage the bolt. a cord attached to the bolt and trained From one end of the body to the other and' a pilaster localedat the exterior of the body and connected with the word.

in testimony whereof I atlix my signature. 

